Iraq Delays Retaliation Over US-Saudi Strikes to Prevent Regional Escalation

Iraq’s anti-terror coalition has postponed its anticipated retaliation for the July 29 joint US-Saudi strikes that killed members of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), in a move aimed at preventing further escalation and keeping the country from being drawn into a wider regional conflict. Speaking at a press conference in Baghdad on Monday, government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi said the decision was taken in coordination with the state to defuse tensions and preserve Iraq’s stability.

Aboudi said the Iraqi government had no advance knowledge of the strikes on PMU bases, rejecting allegations that authorities had prior information about the planned attacks and failed to intervene. He accused some actors of attempting to inflame public opinion over the incident, stressing that the government was working to prevent the situation from developing into a broader confrontation.

The spokesman also said dialogue was underway to disarm armed groups and bring all weapons under state control under the direct supervision of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi. He said the process was being pursued within Iraq’s constitutional and legal framework through state institutions, despite reservations among some political and armed factions. Aboudi added that the government aims to complete the process of bringing weapons under state control by the September 30 deadline.

Meanwhile, Aboudi said Prime Minister Zaidi had received a renewed invitation to visit Saudi Arabia, although no date had yet been finalized. Zaidi had been scheduled to travel to Riyadh on August 1, but the visit was canceled following the July 29 strikes, which sharply increased tensions surrounding Iraq’s relations with regional and international actors.